Future Focus 2

Future Focus 2 is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project that provides focussed support to SMEs based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (C&IoS) helping them to realise their growth potential through innovation. The project aims to improve productivity and deliver economic growth by stimulating early-stage Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) activity.

Meet the team

Dr Ruth Cherrington

Lecturer in Sustainable Futures

Ruth works across several research projects supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) that address the intersecting topics of innovation, circular economy, and skills development. Her research focuses on the relationship between resources, business, and the environment, with the aim of expanding knowledge and understanding in these areas. Her work aims to bring together business engagement activities and regional initiatives in order to build and implement innovative teaching and learning approaches.

Danielle Farrow

Assistant Business Research Impact Fellow

Dani joined the University in 2019 working on the ESF funded Innovation in Higher Level Skills project, helping businesses to design bespoke courses to address skills gaps in the workforce. She started as an Impact and Partnership Development Manager on the Future Focus project in 2021 connecting businesses with academics to create long-lasting partnerships which are mutually beneficial and have a wider impact on the community. Her focus is on supporting the growth of a low carbon economy and communicating expertise between the University and businesses.

In 2022 she started as a Assistant Business Research Impact Fellow providing research for local SMEs, exploring new market opportunities, providing evidence and analysis on existing and emerging trends, and supporting academics with research on emerging themes.

Susie Wood

Future Focus Event and Administrative Project Support

Susie graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BSc Hons Degree in Business Management and worked in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an Administrative Officer working in various roles including recruitment, logistics, media and communications. Susie joined the University of Exeter in 2017 and has worked with the Innovation, Impact and Business team and Research Services. Her focus is on supporting the project team to deliver best practice and to help local businesses in Cornwall access expertise in innovation, the circular economy and general development including one to one support.

Hollie Kirk

Future Focus Impact and Partnership Development Manager

Hollie helps connect businesses and academics in addition to brokering relationships, facilitating discussions and helping to build lasting partnerships. Hollie’s interests are in supporting the emerging fashion and textile businesses in Cornwall, building on academic research to help develop sustainable and circular economy-led practices and support for start-up and larger businesses.

Isabelle Housni

Assistant Business Research Impact Fellow

Isabelle joined the University in 2020 to support organising and running events, project claims and grants and undertaking small market research for businesses on the Future Focus project. She now focusses on providing research for local SMEs, exploring new market opportunities and providing evidence and analysis on existing and emerging trends, as well as supporting academics with research on the Circular Economy.

Sumara Liau

Impact and Partnership Development Manager

Sumara joined the Exeter University team as part of the ERDF funded Future Focus programme in 2021. Before that, she worked at Unlocking Potential as a Business Development Manager on similar ERDF funded projects. Her role as an Impact and Partnership Development Manager at the University of Exeter is to support, establish and nurture purposeful relationships between growing local SMEs and academics at the University with a view to identifying opportunities for research, knowledge transfer and innovation. She is driven by curiosity, open conversations and connecting people. Sumara has a background in working with start ups in both London and Cornwall.

Samantha Rule

Impact and Partnership Development Officer

Sam joined the University of Exeter in 2015 where she worked for the Business School to embed employability and applied learning initiatives into the curriculum. She also worked closely with local businesses and organisations to help satisfy short-term business needs and projects with undergraduate projects and placements. Sam now works on the Future Focus project to further support SMEs based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to realise their growth potential through innovation and early-stage research activity.